Al-Ojairi Scientific Center confirmed that the country experienced winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — on Friday; while the Meteorological Department forecasted scattered light to moderate rain in some areas from Friday evening until Saturday afternoon, reports Al-Rai daily. According to the center, the winter solstice started at 6:28 am on Friday; indicating this signals the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere.

It explained that winter solstice is marked by delayed dawn, as it coincides with the shortest day of the year — approximately 10 hours compared to 14 hours at night, as the Sun rose at 6:38 am the next day. During the winter solstice, the Sun reaches its lowest point above the horizon at noon when it crosses the meridian, and the human shadow on the ground at this time is the longest possible, the center added. On the other hand, the Meteorological Department announced that the weekend weather was moderate to warm during the day and cool to cold at night, with scattered light to moderate rain in some areas from Friday evening until Saturday afternoon